The NYC Ghostbusters raise donations to equip elementary school science labs through events like their Marshmallow blaster target game and “Slime Lab.” They stress that none of the contributions are used on props or costumes — Individual members are responsible for those.

“The real pay-off is inspiring those third graders in science class,” Cudworth told Man’s Life.

“It’s silly, but when you have a kid who’s afraid of monsters or the bully teasing them, if they can look at us and see this 35-year-old guy dressed as a Ghostbuster, they say ‘Then hey, so can I,’” he said.